Key Takeaways

Some of the most distressing and even frightening symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are sensory disturbances — sensations that can range from numbness to tingling to burning pain. They're also common.

Because these sensory symptoms are caused by the nerve damage that is a part of MS, anyone with MS is at risk of developing them.

The “MS hug,” a band-like tightness or girdling feeling in the chest or abdomen that can result from nerve damage or from spasms in the small muscles between the ribs

Lhermitte’s sign, an acute, electric-shock-like sensation running down the spine and into the limbs that occurs when the head is bent forward

Numbness, abnormal sensations, and pain can affect virtually any part of the body: the face, torso, arms, hands, legs, and feet. The symptoms may come and go, or they may come and stay.

"If they're symptoms caused by old nerve damage, they may flare up during periods of fatigue or illness, and then go away with rest and recovery," Dr. Lublin says.

Rarely Permanent, but Potentially Dangerous

Corinne Sheh of Maynard, Massachusetts, frequently struggles with such sensory symptoms. “My first MS symptoms were pins and needles in my legs,” says Sheh, who was diagnosed with MS in 2007 at age 25. “Now I get numbness and tingling in my right hand and a feeling of tightness around my chest — my MS hug.”

Sheh also experiences Lhermitte’s sign."It feels like a zipper being opened from my neck down my spine," she says.

These symptoms rarely become permanent, but they can be dangerous. Sensory symptoms in your legs, for example, can cause a fall. Numbness in your hands can cause you to drop things and may put you at risk for being burned by scalding water. Numbness in your face may be dangerous when chewing.

For Sheh, who's now the mother of a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, sensory symptoms have presented new problems. "What I worry about most is falling on the stairs or dropping one of the babies," she says.

Like the symptoms themselves, though, responses to the various drugs vary from person to person.

"I have never found any medications that help with my sensory symptoms," Sheh says. "I have learned to avoid triggers like stress, fatigue, and hot, humid weather. The best treatment for me is rest and an ice pack. A swim in the ocean or a cool pool also helps."

Learning your unique triggers for sensory symptoms may be the best way to manage them. But if you're struggling with these symptoms, they're new, or they're not going away, talk with your MS doctor about possible solutions.

Last Updated:5/24/2016

MS and Your Brain

Do you play brain games to help sharpen your memory?

Yes

No

As many as 60% of people with MS experience memory problems. Studies say memory games can help boost brain power.

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